DEFENSE DEPARTMENT TRANSFERS CONTROL OF WEATHER SATELLITES
TO NOAA

The Commerce Department today announced the Air Force has
transferred control of its weather satellites to the Department's National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as part of a program to promote
efficiency and cut down public expense. The move, a major milestone in
the merger of civilian and military weather satellite programs, will save
an estimated $1.3 billion in taxpayer funds, the department said.

The merger was directed by President Clinton on May 5, 1994. The
transfer of operations convergence is an interim step toward development
of a single, integrated environmental satellite system designed to meet
civilian and military needs. NOAA will operate the satellites from its
Satellite Operations Control Center in Suitland, Md.

"The transfer of DMSP operations to NOAA's integrated program
office marks another major, important milestone in our commitment to
implementing weather satellite convergence, and building a true
operational partnership to satisfy the requirements of the civil and
military weather communities," said Robert S. Winokur, NOAA's assistant
administrator for satellite and information services.

"This transition has been a tremendous teaming success story," said
Brigadier General Robert C. Hinson, Air Force Space Command, director of
operations. "Since the President's decision, everyone has worked together
to keep this project on time and on target." The original schedule called
for the transfer to take place no later than June 30, 1998.

The Air Force will close the 6th Space Operations Squadron after
nearly 35 years of continuous operations at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.,
and eliminate 228 active duty positions.

NOAA's Suitland facility will become the primary location for
providing functions associated with command and control of all U.S.
weather satellites, including early orbit checkout following launch
operations, satellite state of health maintenance, and satellite sensor
and payload management. Beginning in October 1998, the Air Force Reserves
will operate an alternate DMSP command and control facility at Falcon AFB,
Colo.

NOAA currently operates two polar-orbiting satellites, NOAA-12 and
NOAA-14. NOAA-15, launched May 13, is currently being checked out. NOAA
also operates the nation's geostationary weather satellites, GOES-8,
overlooking the East Coast and well out into the Atlantic Ocean, and
GOES-9, overlooking the West Coast and well out into the Pacific Ocean,
including Hawaii. GOES-10 is currently stored in orbit. With the
transfer of the Defense satellites, NOAA also is operating five DMSP
satellites.

The first satellite in the new system will be available for launch
in July 2007, after NOAA and the Defense Department have both exhausted
the satellites currently in the "pipeline."